For 40 years, the Knox family has relied on prize goldfish to entice people to drop a few coins, even dollars, on their midway ball-toss game. At the Howard County Fair this week, the fish gave way to more exotic prizes."

Major League Lacrosse Berger, Buchanan shine in 16-15 Cannons victory Stephen Berger (Washington College, Mount St. Joseph) and Kevin Buchanan (Calvert Hall) each had four goals and an assist, and the host Boston Cannons held on for a 16-15 win over the Florida Launch on Saturday afternoon at Harvard. The win moved the Cannons (6-7) ahead of the Launch (6-8) in the race for the fourth and final playoff berth in Major League Lacrosse. Heading into Saturday night's game, the Ohio Machine (6-6)

Editor's note: An unexpected stowaway crosses the country with a family on the move.By Kate AllenIt all started when my family and I were moving to California.We lived in Kansas. There were boxes stacked everywhere, when my Mom said, "We better go see Grams before we move so far away."Of course, Grams was delighted to have us visit. Especially me -- we love to take long walks on the beach. After one of these walks Grams and I sat down in her yard. Feeling nice and cozy, we took off our shoes and socks and counted our hundreds of shells.

Adversity hit the Chesapeake Bayhawks early during the team's season opener Sunday against the Boston Cannons. And it struck in the worst possible spot. Minutes into the game, Bayhawks goalie Kip Turner (Severn) took a shot to the groin, better described by Turner as "the place you don't want to get hit," and had to leave the game. By the time it ended, the rest of the Bayhawks had taken a beating of their own. Chesapeake was shredded by Cannons midfielder Kevin Buchanan (Calvert Hall)

Today's fashion riddle: What's long and green and looks like a lizard?Liz Shively in one of her iguana-inspired outfits.Not only does she love her pet iguanas Oscar, PeeWee and Willy; she enjoys dressing like them.Ms. Shively's affection for the green creatures started several years ago during a vacation in Mexico. She returned and bought her husband one as a gift. Friends who learned of her interest began giving her clothing and accessories emblazoned with lizards.Ms. Shively, who is the executive director of ReVisions Foundation Inc., a local group that supports mentally ill adults, does take some razzing for occasionally dressing like a scaly green iguana.

THE ONLY TIME I got really scared was when the mob surrounded me and began beating on my head. Fortunately, it was not my usual head: It was the head of a giant lizard.I was wearing the giant-lizard head because -- and this is why people who value their dignity should avoid journalism -- I thought it would be fun to write about being a sports-team mascot and engaging in comical high jinks with the crowd. The mascot that I wound up being is named "P.K.," which stands for "Penalty Kick." P.K., a seven-foot green lizard, is the mascot for the Miami Fusion, a professional soccer team of which I'm a big fan.I like soccer because there's a lot of action and drama.

In the past two weeks, a Towson couple found two exotic lizards in their back yard -- one dead, one alive; one about 6 feet long, the other about 3 feet. The smaller one apparently was killed by dogs. The larger one vanished into adjoining woods. Strange stuff. I guess you're wondering what gives here.Anthony Wisnieski, reptile curator for the Baltimore Zoo, examined the dead animal and determined that it was an Asian water monitor, a carnivorous, tree-climbing lizard closely related to the iguanas.

I REGULARLY PROMISE people that I will send them snapshots. Many photos are promised, few are delivered. But this time I think I had better keep my word or I could end up with a forked tongue. I promised a lady I would send her a photograph of a lizard.The lady had been talking to the lizard. The lizard appeared to be listening. A friend of mine suggested the reason the two were conversing might be because the lizard was the lady's husband. One day he got on the bad side of her, and next thing he knew was living under a rock.

It comes from the tropics, has a long tail, likes water, dines on rats and has a mean disposition. And it wandered up a street near Patterson Park yesterday afternoon.The cops first thought it was a Komodo dragon. But the experts at the Baltimore Zoo labeled it an Ornate Nile Monitor Lizard. It's a distinction that doesn't matter much to Officer Drew Dorbert, who got a nasty bite trying to bag the 3-foot-long, 7-pound reptile in a pillowcase."The last thing you want is a big animal with a bad attitude," said Rick Krumrine, manager of the Green Iguana pet store in Finksburg, which sells the animal for $50.Just how the lizard -- a relative of the Komodo that can grow to 7 feet long -- got to the 100 block of N. Glover St. is a mystery.

The cute little lizard that ventured into the media room the other day at Fort Lauderdale Stadium didn't save anybody a penny on car insurance, but it did climb up the pants leg of Sun sportswriter Roch Kubatko and cause quite a stir. The rambunctious reptile was quickly captured and turned loose outside, so no animals were harmed during the production of Roch Around the Clock.

Two-time Women's World Cup gold medalist Devon Wills was claimed by the New York Lizards today, making her the first woman to sign with a Major League Lacrosse team, the league announced. "It was an honor to be considered, and I have a lot of respect for all the guys in the supplemental draft," said Wills, who was not selected in last week's event. "Now comes the time for me to compete and take my chance to fight for a spot on the first team. " Wills will have a chance to earn a roster spot at the beginning of April when the Lizards begin training camp.

The two-time defending Major League Lacrosse champion Chesapeake Bayhawks will open their 2014 schedule with a road game against Paul Rabil (Johns Hopkins) and the Boston Cannons on April 26. The Bayhawks return for their sixth summer at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis for their home opener on May 3 against Rookie of the Year Rob Pannell and the New York Lizards. The regular season will again be 14 games -- seven home and seven away. “We are excited about our schedule this season,” coach Dave Cottle said.

In a blockbuster deal before Tuesday's Major League Lacrosse trade deadline, the Boston Cannons sent rookie attackman Steve Mock and a 2014 first-round Collegiate Draft pick to the New York Lizards for midfielder Stephen Berger (Washington College, Mount St. Joseph) and second- and sixth-round 2015 Collegiate Draft selections. Berger was tied for third on the team with 10 goals this season and was fourth in points (13). He has played seven of his eight seasons in the league with the Lizards, spending the 2012 season with the Charlotte Hounds and being named All-Star Game Most Valuable Player that season.

Attackman Drew Westervelt scored a career-high eight goals to lead an impressive offensive showing as the Chesapeake Bayhawks blew out the New York Lizards, 21-8, in the first Major League Lacrosse game at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island, N.Y. Westervelt, a seventh-year veteran out of UMBC and John Carroll, stuck corners on off-ball shots and also dodged for unassisted tallies, collecting his eight goals on 12 shots. Attackman John Grant Jr. scored four times for Chesapeake (4-2)

The Charlotte Hounds of Major League Lacrosse announced a pair of trades Friday through which the team will acquire attackman Ryan Young (Maryland) in addition to two 2014 Collegiate Draft picks. The first part of the deal sends midfielder Stephen Berger (Washington College, Mount St. Joseph) to the New York Lizards in exchange for Young, midfielder Colin Briggs and a 2014 third-round Collegiate Draft Pick. The Hounds then trade Briggs to the Boston Cannons in exchange for a 2014 second-round Collegiate Draft Pick.

The defending Major League Lacrosse champion Chesapeake Bayhawks will travel to the Rochester Rattlers on April 27 to open their 14-game schedule, the team announced today. The Bayhawks return for their fifth summer at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis with their home opener on Saturday, May 4 against the New York Lizards (previously known as the Long Island Lizards). The home opener will be highlighted by a tailgate celebration and postgame fireworks, as well as more events to be announced. The 2013 MLL regular season will consist of seven home games and seven away games.

There's just something about the Oakland Raiders. They're 17-53 since 2004, and their motto is "Commitment to Excellence," which I'm pretty sure was on the short list when Baltimore came up with its "Get in on it!" tourism campaign a few years ago. But if it's any consolation, owner Al Davis was on the short list for that Geico campaign until they found a cuter lizard. ( For more, go to baltimoresun.com/schmuckblog)

In a cultured moment, the Lizard Man of Lee County met a Development Director of Baltimore County. It happened at Friday's opening of the American Visionary Art Museum at Baltimore's Inner Harbor. It happened because it was meant to be:Courtney McKeldin: "Isn't he amazing?"Lizard Man: Says nothing, remains nailed to museum wall, flashing his wood-carved tongue and showing off his green toe-nails.Ms. McKeldin: "He's got a nice smile on his face -- for a lizard man."Lizard Man: Again says nothing, but what is he thinking?

Et cetera Bayhawks can't hold lead, lose on road to Lizards, 14-11 Third-year midfielder Ben Hunt scored four goals, but it wasn't enough as the Chesapeake Bayhawks lost to the Long Island Lizards, 14-11, on Thursday night in Hempstead, N.Y. Attackman Danny Glading totaled two goals and an assist for Chesapeake (3-2), which fell out of a tie for first place in Major League Lacrosse. Attackman Ben Rubeor and midfielder Kyle Dixon had two assists apiece for the Bayhawks, who led 5-4 after the first period.

I was invited to visit a homeowner's lawn that was emerald green except for large patches of dead grass caused by misuse of a herbicide. The homeowner took full responsibility for causing what happened to the lawn, but I couldn't resist suggesting that the damage may also have been done by a "basilisk. " "What's a basilisk?" he asked. A basilisk, I explained, is a foot-long, slithering, serpent-like creature that ancient Romans believed could kill a person with a single bite.